Wind Power News: Ontario
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Ontario green energy prices under review behind closed doors
In closed rooms at Queen’s Park, bureaucrats and policy-makers are poring over submissions about how much you should pay for renewable energy. Many of the submissions have not been publicly released. And while the policy-makers labour in private, discussion among non-government officials has also been muted. For example, a coalition of green energy groups assembled dozens of like-minded “thought leaders” for a discussion of Ontario’s renewable energy policy late last year. They decried the lack of public understanding of energy . . .
Anger in Loyalist Country
More than 200 people packed the main hall of St Andrews Presybyterian Church In Picton last night to hear a star-studded roster of speakers talk about the Gilead Power project proposed for Ostrander Point, on the southernmost tip of Prince Edward County. Representatives of local naturalist groups spoke about the importance of the area to birds, noting that as many as 750,000 birds travel through the area each spring and fall. “There is no ‘mitigation’ for the damage that will . . .
Don’t blow it, Ottawa: Mimicking Ontario’s guidelines for wind turbine setbacks is a bad idea
Ottawa is drafting guidelines for wind turbine setbacks from homes, apparently using Ontario’s minimum 550-metre separation as a model. Based on Ontario’s disastrous experiment with wind energy, this is a bad idea. That’s because the province’s plunge into renewable energy, aside from being a financial disaster as documented by Ontario’s Auditor General, has been a social disaster as well. Canadians, especially those living in rural areas, should be on guard from the moment provincial governments and wind developers show up . . .
Local wind farm opponents determined to fight project
SOUTH DUNDAS — The group opposed to a large wind turbine farm isn’t about to give up, despite failing to twist the arms of township council. South Branch Wind Opposition Group (WOG) spokesperson Leslie Disheau said WOG will continue efforts to stop ProWind from erecting 14 625-foot towers on land around Brinston, north of Morrisburg. South Dundas council passed their endorsement of ProWind on Jan. 17. “I am stunned council has decided to wash its hands of this issue, an . . .
Politicians ready to walk out on premier
Most of Chatsworth’s councillors will be ready to walk out over the wind turbine issue when Premier Dalton McGuinty gives his keynote speech at the upcoming Ontario Good Roads Association meeting in Toronto. Council passed a motion Wednesday supporting a resolution from Arran-Elderslie for the province to place a moratorium on all wind turbine construction until concerns about them are addressed. Arran-Elderslie’s motion was partly based on an Ontario Federation of Agriculture call for a one-year moratorium beginning Feb. 20. . . .
Full house for wind turbine Town Hall meeting
People who do not want to see wind turbines line the south shore of Prince Edward County made up the vast majority of the packed house attending MPP Todd Smith’s Town Hall meeting Thursday night at St. Andrew’s Church in Picton. More than 250 people filled the chairs and the audience spilled into the foyer, the balcony and sat on the edge of the stage to hear speakers and the public have their say. County organizations opposed to turbines here . . .
City appealing to OMB over wind turbine clause in Official Plan
LINDSAY -The City of Kawartha Lakes council has voted to appeal a clause in its Official Plan regarding industrial wind turbines. The plan was recently approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and gives an appeal period that ends Feb. 6. The contentious section 12 was boiled down by the ministry to two general statements of support for renewable energy systems. Council had included about two and a half pages of additional clauses that would control the placement . . .
OFA turbine stance applauded; Farm association calls for halt
In what may be a significant shift in the prevailing winds, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has released a position statement calling for a moratorium on the construction of new wind turbine projects. The position statement from OFA president Mark Wales says the process for wind turbine construction is divisive and the technology is not living up to promises. OFA is Ontario’s largest association for farmers. “We are hearing very clearly from our members that the wind turbine situation . . .
Anti-turbine group to boycott CAW union
Chrysler, General Motors, Air Canada and about 50 other companies are in the crosshairs of an anti-turbine group in Saugeen Shores that is planning a major boycott of the Canadian Auto Workers Union. The 600-member group, known as STOP, intends to “pull the trigger” on the boycott within the next three weeks to protest the CAW’s controversial wind turbine, which is under construction beside the union’s Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, said spokesman Greg Schmalz. “Health and safety is . . .
Green Energy Act divides Ontario
Nobody knows what’s best for a community better than the people, small businesses and local councillors who live there. That is why it is so maddening to see signs of large industrial wind and solar projects pushing ahead despite endless local opposition. Under any other circumstance, ratepayers would have a say in what is built in their community. Your local council can determine where a hot dog stand can go, but because of Dalton McGuinty’s Green Energy Act, they are . . .
